Germaine age 94, of Stevens Point, passed peacefully at Aspirus Hospital in Stevens Point on May 23, 2021.
She was the eldest of 6 children born on Aug. 15, 1926 to Joseph & Clara (Shippy) Bialas. Raised on Stevens Point's northside, she enjoyed her childhood playing with an abundance of neighborhood kids, recounting stories of barefoot cinder races, jacks, marbles, jump rope, roller skating & hide and seek under the corner street light where her house stood. There were stories of almost daily trips to neighborhood grocery stores, necessitated by lack of refrigeration, not just for family but for elderly Polish neighbors. Since most didn't speak English & she didn't speak Polish, the little she understood didn't always translate to what was requested, especially the time she bought shoelaces rather than rope sausage.
She enjoyed visiting grandma's farm on Torun, again grandma only speaking Polish. Some related memories were swimming in the pond, the cellar full of wintering melons to feed the hogs, almost being trampled by the work horses & chased by the bull while wearing a red hooded cape. Then there was the promise of an earned quarter for milking a cow, but she was so slow & inept the cow fell asleep, spilling the milk bucket and washing away her dreams of that quarter.
She attended St. Peter's grade school where she took part in the Sodality, basketball, school plays & piano lessons which she earned by cleaning classrooms. Those lessons were taught by Sister DeSalles, who happened to be Liberace's aunt. Imagine an 8-year-old Germaine playing in a recital where the special guest turned out to be a young piano protégé named Wladziu Liberace. While in PJ Jacobs High School, she attended half days, working in the school superintendent's office, at the rationing board & bookkeeping for Northwest Liquor. After graduation she became head cashier/assistant bookkeeper at Woolworth's, then a switchboard operator at Bell Telephone where she was union stewardess during a strike.
A couple other memorable adventures included diving into the waters at Iverson Park and realizing too late that the water had receded, hitting her head and gulping down a few minnows. Once she accepted a ride in an open cockpit 2-seater airplane, when the pilot decided to show off with a barrel roll over the Wisconsin River. While she survived, one of her high heels slipped off and still sleeps with the fishes. She also fondly remembers meeting the troop trains & buses, celebrating VJ day in Milwaukee and when Frank Sinatra passed thru town on his way north. But her most cherished memory was meeting Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, shaking hands and receiving a kiss on the cheek shortly before he became Pope John Paul II.
Germaine married Joseph Wroblewski on Sept. 11, 1948. They had 3 children, the youngest born with cerebral palsy. She was the original supermom, working tirelessly to accomplish all the cooking, baking, laundry, spotlessly cleaning due to Nancy's severe allergies, helping with home work plus canning copious amounts of garden goodies, while caring 24/7 for her severely disabled Angel Nancy. She always slept with one eye & ear opened, afraid she'd miss a middle of the night Grand Mal seizure.
Because of this devotion, she started a mother's support & kids play group at the Rec Center, welcoming all handicapped children whether they had spina bifida, down syndrome or cerebral palsy, all were welcome. She enlisted the support of the Delta Beta Sorority and received monetary backing from a Milwaukee based philanthropist, Eli Tasch. That backing provided funds for water therapy at PJ Jacobs pool, play dates and holiday parties, prompting the building of Washington School as a place for special needs classes.
After Nancy passed at age 11 Germaine returned to work as a form of therapy, first in the office of JC Penney, then as a floor clerk. When forced to quit due to health issues, she became involved with painting at Lincoln Center. Despite no formal training her talents led to one woman art shows and eventually becoming coordinator of Mixed Media Art classes. She organized many field trips to various art museums & studios. She also became a part of RSVP program, visiting the homebound, always with home baked treats. Other organization she belonged to were St. Peter's Rosary Society, VFW Women's Auxiliary & Catholic Women's Club, holding various positions. Her planning skills also led her to help with St. Peter's & PJ Jacobs class reunions.
After Joe's death in 1998 she met Bernard Bannach at a loss of spouse support group. They were married 3 years later for a brief 2 years, never able to fulfill plans of a new home or travel, but happy together nonetheless.
Survivors include her daughter Charmaine (Timothy) Kennedy, children Tyler & Tegan. Her son James Wrobleski, children Tiffany (Michael) Brown, Micha and Lane. Bernard's children; Marcia (Ron) Draeger, Theresa Bannach, Luanne (Dave) Poffinbarger, Bruce (Deborah) Bannach & Bernard (Cyndi) Bannach and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Daniel & Alfred, her Angel Nancy, grandson Lance Wrobleski, Bernard's son Gregory and many beloved relatives and friends. In lieu of monetary gifts, please donate in Mom's name to your favorite religious or non-profit charity.
Mom, in the never-ending quest for loving care, you have finally found it in the arms of the Lord. Rest in peace. We will miss you always and remember you with love, forever.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM on Thursday May 27, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic church. Rev. Arul Joseph V. will officiate. Burial will be in the Guardian Angel cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9:00 AM until the time of services Thursday morning in the St. Faustina room at the Church.
Pisarski Funeral Home is Honored to be serving the family.
She was the eldest of 6 children born on Aug. 15, 1926 to Joseph & Clara (Shippy) Bialas. Raised on Stevens Point's northside, she enjoyed her childhood playing with an abundance of neighborhood kids, recounting stories of barefoot cinder races, jacks, marbles, jump rope, roller skating & hide and seek under the corner street light where her house stood. There were stories of almost daily trips to neighborhood grocery stores, necessitated by lack of refrigeration, not just for family but for elderly Polish neighbors. Since most didn't speak English & she didn't speak Polish, the little she understood didn't always translate to what was requested, especially the time she bought shoelaces rather than rope sausage.
She enjoyed visiting grandma's farm on Torun, again grandma only speaking Polish. Some related memories were swimming in the pond, the cellar full of wintering melons to feed the hogs, almost being trampled by the work horses & chased by the bull while wearing a red hooded cape. Then there was the promise of an earned quarter for milking a cow, but she was so slow & inept the cow fell asleep, spilling the milk bucket and washing away her dreams of that quarter.
She attended St. Peter's grade school where she took part in the Sodality, basketball, school plays & piano lessons which she earned by cleaning classrooms. Those lessons were taught by Sister DeSalles, who happened to be Liberace's aunt. Imagine an 8-year-old Germaine playing in a recital where the special guest turned out to be a young piano protégé named Wladziu Liberace. While in PJ Jacobs High School, she attended half days, working in the school superintendent's office, at the rationing board & bookkeeping for Northwest Liquor. After graduation she became head cashier/assistant bookkeeper at Woolworth's, then a switchboard operator at Bell Telephone where she was union stewardess during a strike.
A couple other memorable adventures included diving into the waters at Iverson Park and realizing too late that the water had receded, hitting her head and gulping down a few minnows. Once she accepted a ride in an open cockpit 2-seater airplane, when the pilot decided to show off with a barrel roll over the Wisconsin River. While she survived, one of her high heels slipped off and still sleeps with the fishes. She also fondly remembers meeting the troop trains & buses, celebrating VJ day in Milwaukee and when Frank Sinatra passed thru town on his way north. But her most cherished memory was meeting Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, shaking hands and receiving a kiss on the cheek shortly before he became Pope John Paul II.
Germaine married Joseph Wroblewski on Sept. 11, 1948. They had 3 children, the youngest born with cerebral palsy. She was the original supermom, working tirelessly to accomplish all the cooking, baking, laundry, spotlessly cleaning due to Nancy's severe allergies, helping with home work plus canning copious amounts of garden goodies, while caring 24/7 for her severely disabled Angel Nancy. She always slept with one eye & ear opened, afraid she'd miss a middle of the night Grand Mal seizure.
Because of this devotion, she started a mother's support & kids play group at the Rec Center, welcoming all handicapped children whether they had spina bifida, down syndrome or cerebral palsy, all were welcome. She enlisted the support of the Delta Beta Sorority and received monetary backing from a Milwaukee based philanthropist, Eli Tasch. That backing provided funds for water therapy at PJ Jacobs pool, play dates and holiday parties, prompting the building of Washington School as a place for special needs classes.
After Nancy passed at age 11 Germaine returned to work as a form of therapy, first in the office of JC Penney, then as a floor clerk. When forced to quit due to health issues, she became involved with painting at Lincoln Center. Despite no formal training her talents led to one woman art shows and eventually becoming coordinator of Mixed Media Art classes. She organized many field trips to various art museums & studios. She also became a part of RSVP program, visiting the homebound, always with home baked treats. Other organization she belonged to were St. Peter's Rosary Society, VFW Women's Auxiliary & Catholic Women's Club, holding various positions. Her planning skills also led her to help with St. Peter's & PJ Jacobs class reunions.
After Joe's death in 1998 she met Bernard Bannach at a loss of spouse support group. They were married 3 years later for a brief 2 years, never able to fulfill plans of a new home or travel, but happy together nonetheless.
Survivors include her daughter Charmaine (Timothy) Kennedy, children Tyler & Tegan. Her son James Wrobleski, children Tiffany (Michael) Brown, Micha and Lane. Bernard's children; Marcia (Ron) Draeger, Theresa Bannach, Luanne (Dave) Poffinbarger, Bruce (Deborah) Bannach & Bernard (Cyndi) Bannach and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Daniel & Alfred, her Angel Nancy, grandson Lance Wrobleski, Bernard's son Gregory and many beloved relatives and friends. In lieu of monetary gifts, please donate in Mom's name to your favorite religious or non-profit charity.
Mom, in the never-ending quest for loving care, you have finally found it in the arms of the Lord. Rest in peace. We will miss you always and remember you with love, forever.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM on Thursday May 27, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic church. Rev. Arul Joseph V. will officiate. Burial will be in the Guardian Angel cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9:00 AM until the time of services Thursday morning in the St. Faustina room at the Church.
Pisarski Funeral Home is Honored to be serving the family.
Germaine age 94, of Stevens Point, passed peacefully at Aspirus Hospital in Stevens Point on May 23, 2021.
She was the eldest of 6 children born on Aug. 15, 1926 to Joseph & Clara (Shippy) Bialas. Raised on Stevens Point's northside, she enjoyed her childhood playing with an abundance of neighborhood kids, recounting stories of barefoot cinder races, jacks, marbles, jump rope, roller skating & hide and seek under the corner street light where her house stood. There were stories of almost daily trips to neighborhood grocery stores, necessitated by lack of refrigeration, not just for family but for elderly Polish neighbors. Since most didn't speak English & she didn't speak Polish, the little she understood didn't always translate to what was requested, especially the time she bought shoelaces rather than rope sausage.
She enjoyed visiting grandma's farm on Torun, again grandma only speaking Polish. Some related memories were swimming in the pond, the cellar full of wintering melons to feed the hogs, almost being trampled by the work horses & chased by the bull while wearing a red hooded cape. Then there was the promise of an earned quarter for milking a cow, but she was so slow & inept the cow fell asleep, spilling the milk bucket and washing away her dreams of that quarter.
She attended St. Peter's grade school where she took part in the Sodality, basketball, school plays & piano lessons which she earned by cleaning classrooms. Those lessons were taught by Sister DeSalles, who happened to be Liberace's aunt. Imagine an 8-year-old Germaine playing in a recital where the special guest turned out to be a young piano protégé named Wladziu Liberace. While in PJ Jacobs High School, she attended half days, working in the school superintendent's office, at the rationing board & bookkeeping for Northwest Liquor. After graduation she became head cashier/assistant bookkeeper at Woolworth's, then a switchboard operator at Bell Telephone where she was union stewardess during a strike.
A couple other memorable adventures included diving into the waters at Iverson Park and realizing too late that the water had receded, hitting her head and gulping down a few minnows. Once she accepted a ride in an open cockpit 2-seater airplane, when the pilot decided to show off with a barrel roll over the Wisconsin River. While she survived, one of her high heels slipped off and still sleeps with the fishes. She also fondly remembers meeting the troop trains & buses, celebrating VJ day in Milwaukee and when Frank Sinatra passed thru town on his way north. But her most cherished memory was meeting Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, shaking hands and receiving a kiss on the cheek shortly before he became Pope John Paul II.
Germaine married Joseph Wroblewski on Sept. 11, 1948. They had 3 children, the youngest born with cerebral palsy. She was the original supermom, working tirelessly to accomplish all the cooking, baking, laundry, spotlessly cleaning due to Nancy's severe allergies, helping with home work plus canning copious amounts of garden goodies, while caring 24/7 for her severely disabled Angel Nancy. She always slept with one eye & ear opened, afraid she'd miss a middle of the night Grand Mal seizure.
Because of this devotion, she started a mother's support & kids play group at the Rec Center, welcoming all handicapped children whether they had spina bifida, down syndrome or cerebral palsy, all were welcome. She enlisted the support of the Delta Beta Sorority and received monetary backing from a Milwaukee based philanthropist, Eli Tasch. That backing provided funds for water therapy at PJ Jacobs pool, play dates and holiday parties, prompting the building of Washington School as a place for special needs classes.
After Nancy passed at age 11 Germaine returned to work as a form of therapy, first in the office of JC Penney, then as a floor clerk. When forced to quit due to health issues, she became involved with painting at Lincoln Center. Despite no formal training her talents led to one woman art shows and eventually becoming coordinator of Mixed Media Art classes. She organized many field trips to various art museums & studios. She also became a part of RSVP program, visiting the homebound, always with home baked treats. Other organization she belonged to were St. Peter's Rosary Society, VFW Women's Auxiliary & Catholic Women's Club, holding various positions. Her planning skills also led her to help with St. Peter's & PJ Jacobs class reunions.
After Joe's death in 1998 she met Bernard Bannach at a loss of spouse support group. They were married 3 years later for a brief 2 years, never able to fulfill plans of a new home or travel, but happy together nonetheless.
Survivors include her daughter Charmaine (Timothy) Kennedy, children Tyler & Tegan. Her son James Wrobleski, children Tiffany (Michael) Brown, Micha and Lane. Bernard's children; Marcia (Ron) Draeger, Theresa Bannach, Luanne (Dave) Poffinbarger, Bruce (Deborah) Bannach & Bernard (Cyndi) Bannach and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Daniel & Alfred, her Angel Nancy, grandson Lance Wrobleski, Bernard's son Gregory and many beloved relatives and friends. In lieu of monetary gifts, please donate in Mom's name to your favorite religious or non-profit charity.
Mom, in the never-ending quest for loving care, you have finally found it in the arms of the Lord. Rest in peace. We will miss you always and remember you with love, forever.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM on Thursday May 27, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic church. Rev. Arul Joseph V. will officiate. Burial will be in the Guardian Angel cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9:00 AM until the time of services Thursday morning in the St. Faustina room at the Church.
Pisarski Funeral Home is Honored to be serving the family.
She was the eldest of 6 children born on Aug. 15, 1926 to Joseph & Clara (Shippy) Bialas. Raised on Stevens Point's northside, she enjoyed her childhood playing with an abundance of neighborhood kids, recounting stories of barefoot cinder races, jacks, marbles, jump rope, roller skating & hide and seek under the corner street light where her house stood. There were stories of almost daily trips to neighborhood grocery stores, necessitated by lack of refrigeration, not just for family but for elderly Polish neighbors. Since most didn't speak English & she didn't speak Polish, the little she understood didn't always translate to what was requested, especially the time she bought shoelaces rather than rope sausage.
She enjoyed visiting grandma's farm on Torun, again grandma only speaking Polish. Some related memories were swimming in the pond, the cellar full of wintering melons to feed the hogs, almost being trampled by the work horses & chased by the bull while wearing a red hooded cape. Then there was the promise of an earned quarter for milking a cow, but she was so slow & inept the cow fell asleep, spilling the milk bucket and washing away her dreams of that quarter.
She attended St. Peter's grade school where she took part in the Sodality, basketball, school plays & piano lessons which she earned by cleaning classrooms. Those lessons were taught by Sister DeSalles, who happened to be Liberace's aunt. Imagine an 8-year-old Germaine playing in a recital where the special guest turned out to be a young piano protégé named Wladziu Liberace. While in PJ Jacobs High School, she attended half days, working in the school superintendent's office, at the rationing board & bookkeeping for Northwest Liquor. After graduation she became head cashier/assistant bookkeeper at Woolworth's, then a switchboard operator at Bell Telephone where she was union stewardess during a strike.
A couple other memorable adventures included diving into the waters at Iverson Park and realizing too late that the water had receded, hitting her head and gulping down a few minnows. Once she accepted a ride in an open cockpit 2-seater airplane, when the pilot decided to show off with a barrel roll over the Wisconsin River. While she survived, one of her high heels slipped off and still sleeps with the fishes. She also fondly remembers meeting the troop trains & buses, celebrating VJ day in Milwaukee and when Frank Sinatra passed thru town on his way north. But her most cherished memory was meeting Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, shaking hands and receiving a kiss on the cheek shortly before he became Pope John Paul II.
Germaine married Joseph Wroblewski on Sept. 11, 1948. They had 3 children, the youngest born with cerebral palsy. She was the original supermom, working tirelessly to accomplish all the cooking, baking, laundry, spotlessly cleaning due to Nancy's severe allergies, helping with home work plus canning copious amounts of garden goodies, while caring 24/7 for her severely disabled Angel Nancy. She always slept with one eye & ear opened, afraid she'd miss a middle of the night Grand Mal seizure.
Because of this devotion, she started a mother's support & kids play group at the Rec Center, welcoming all handicapped children whether they had spina bifida, down syndrome or cerebral palsy, all were welcome. She enlisted the support of the Delta Beta Sorority and received monetary backing from a Milwaukee based philanthropist, Eli Tasch. That backing provided funds for water therapy at PJ Jacobs pool, play dates and holiday parties, prompting the building of Washington School as a place for special needs classes.
After Nancy passed at age 11 Germaine returned to work as a form of therapy, first in the office of JC Penney, then as a floor clerk. When forced to quit due to health issues, she became involved with painting at Lincoln Center. Despite no formal training her talents led to one woman art shows and eventually becoming coordinator of Mixed Media Art classes. She organized many field trips to various art museums & studios. She also became a part of RSVP program, visiting the homebound, always with home baked treats. Other organization she belonged to were St. Peter's Rosary Society, VFW Women's Auxiliary & Catholic Women's Club, holding various positions. Her planning skills also led her to help with St. Peter's & PJ Jacobs class reunions.
After Joe's death in 1998 she met Bernard Bannach at a loss of spouse support group. They were married 3 years later for a brief 2 years, never able to fulfill plans of a new home or travel, but happy together nonetheless.
Survivors include her daughter Charmaine (Timothy) Kennedy, children Tyler & Tegan. Her son James Wrobleski, children Tiffany (Michael) Brown, Micha and Lane. Bernard's children; Marcia (Ron) Draeger, Theresa Bannach, Luanne (Dave) Poffinbarger, Bruce (Deborah) Bannach & Bernard (Cyndi) Bannach and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Daniel & Alfred, her Angel Nancy, grandson Lance Wrobleski, Bernard's son Gregory and many beloved relatives and friends. In lieu of monetary gifts, please donate in Mom's name to your favorite religious or non-profit charity.
Mom, in the never-ending quest for loving care, you have finally found it in the arms of the Lord. Rest in peace. We will miss you always and remember you with love, forever.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM on Thursday May 27, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic church. Rev. Arul Joseph V. will officiate. Burial will be in the Guardian Angel cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9:00 AM until the time of services Thursday morning in the St. Faustina room at the Church.
Pisarski Funeral Home is Honored to be serving the family.
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See more Wroblewski Bannach or Bialas memorials in:
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- Portage County Wroblewski Bannach or Bialas
- Wisconsin Wroblewski Bannach or Bialas
- USA Wroblewski Bannach or Bialas
- Find a Grave Wroblewski Bannach or Bialas
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